44th British Columbia general election

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44th British Columbia general election
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On or before October 21, 2028 (2028-10-21)
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All 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
47 seats needed for a majority
 
David Eby, BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-Point Grey (54002997713) (cropped).jpg
CON
GRN
Leader David Eby Trevor Halford
( interim )		 Emily Lowan
Party New Democratic Conservative Green
Leader since October 21, 2022 December 4, 2025 September 24, 2025
Leader's seat Vancouver-Point Grey Surrey-White Rock None
Last election47 seats, 44.86%44 seats, 43.28%2 seats, 8.24%
Current seats47392
Seats neededSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 8Increase2.svg 45
Incumbent Premier

David Eby
New Democratic



The 44th British Columbia general election will elect members of the Legislative Assembly to serve in the 44th Parliament of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Constitution Act requires that the election be held no later than October 21, 2028, but it may be called earlier.

Contents

Date of the election

Section 23 of British Columbia's Constitution Act provides that general elections occur on the third Saturday in October of the fourth calendar year after the last election. [1] [2] The previous election was held in 2024; the next election is therefore scheduled for October 21, 2028. The same section, though, makes the fixed election date subject to the lieutenant governor's prerogative to dissolve the Legislative Assembly as they see fit (in practice, on the advice of the premier or following a vote of non-confidence). [1] [3]

Background

The 2024 British Columbia general election was held on October 19, 2024. The incumbent New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Premier David Eby, won a narrow majority government, marking their third consecutive term in office. [4] The opposition BC United (formerly the BC Liberals) withdrew shortly before the election and endorsed the Conservative Party, led by John Rustad, who went on to form the official opposition. [5] The Green Party remained steady with two seats, but leader Sonia Furstenau lost her seat. [a] [6] On December 13, the NDP and Greens announced a co-operation agreement. [7]

On January 28, 2025, Furstenau announced her resignation as Green Party leader. Jeremy Valeriote was named interim leader while the party organized a leadership election for September 2025, which was won by Emily Lowan. [8]

After months of party infighting in the Conservative caucus, on December 3, 2025, a letter was sent to the Conservative party president on behalf of 20 Conservative MLAs calling for Rustad to be removed as leader. The MLAs, who remained anonymous, said they had "lost confidence" in his leadership. Rustad dismissed the letter and refused to step down. Subsequently, the party executive declared Rustad "professionally incapacitated" and thus removed him as leader, and named Trevor Halford as interim leader. [9] Rustad disputed the legitimacy of his removal, saying "nothing has changed" and that he remains leader. [10] The following day, Rustad announced his resignation as leader. [11]

Incumbents not standing for re-election

Member of the Legislative AssemblyElectoral districtDate announcedRef.
  John Rustad Nechako Lakes December 4, 2025 [12]

Timeline

Changes in seats held (2024–present)
SeatBeforeChange
DateMemberPartyReasonDateMemberParty
Vancouver-Quilchena March 7, 2025 Dallas Brodie █  Conservative Removed from caucus█  Independent
Peace River North March 7, 2025 Jordan Kealy █  Conservative Left caucus█  Independent
Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream March 7, 2025 Tara Armstrong █  Conservative Left caucus█  Independent
Vancouver-Quilchena June 9, 2025 Dallas Brodie █  Independent Formed new party█  OneBC
Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream June 9, 2025 Tara Armstrong █  Independent Formed new party█  OneBC
Surrey-Cloverdale September 22, 2025 Elenore Sturko █  Conservative Removed from caucus█  Independent
Penticton-Summerland October 20, 2025 Amelia Boultbee █  Conservative Left caucus█  Independent
Vancouver-Quilchena December 13, 2025 Dallas Brodie █  OneBC Removed from caucus
Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream December 16, 2025 Tara Armstrong █  OneBC Left caucus█  Independent

2025

Opinion polling

Overall Polling with a local regression (LOESS) trend line for each party and a monthly average. 44th British Columbia General Election polling.svg
Overall Polling with a local regression (LOESS) trend line for each party and a monthly average.
Opinion polls
Polling firmDates conductedSource NDP Con. Green OneBC Centre Others [b] Margin of errorSample sizePolling methodLead
Dec 13–16,2025 Dallas Brodie is removed as leader of OneBC and as a member of the party. Tara Armstrong subsequently leaves the party, and OneBC loses representation in the Legislature.
Dec 3–4,2025 John Rustad is removed as leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. MLA Trevor Halford becomes interim leader.
Yorkville StrategiesNov 24–25,2025 [25] 40%42%8%5%—4%—600IVR2%
Angus ReidOct 23–25,2025 [26] 40%41%11%5%1%1%3%1,044Online1%
Abacus Data Oct 9–15,2025 [27] 47%40%8%1%3%—3.1%1,000Online7%
LegerOct 10–12,2025 [28] 48%38%8%——7%3.0%1,035Online10%
Cardinal ResearchOct 4–6,2025 [29] 42.5%41.3%10%3.8%—2.5%3%1,088IVR1.2%
Research Co.Oct 1–3,2025 [30] 44%38%12%1%3%1%3.5%801Online6%
Sep 24,2025 Emily Lowan is elected leader of the Green Party of British Columbia.
Angus Reid Aug 28–Sep 5,2025 [31] 42%44%10%——4%3%811Online2%
Mainstreet Research Jun 23–24,2025 [32] 41%44%7%——8%3.2%943Smart IVR3%
Jun 9,2025Independent MLAs Dallas Brodie and Tara Armstrong form OneBC. [33]
Research Co.Jun 7–9,2025 [34] 43%42%8%1% [c] 2%3%3.5%803Online1%
LegerMay 23–25,2025 [35] 45%39%11%——5%3.04%1,032Online6%
Liaison StrategiesMay 2–4,2025 [36] 45%47%7%——2%3.45%800IVR2%
Mar 28,2025Former MLA Karin Kirkpatrick forms CentreBC.
Research Co.Mar 3–5,2025 [37] 44%42%11%——3%3.5%802Online2%
Pallas DataFeb 15,2025 [38] 48.8%40.7%7.6%——2.9%3.8%677IVR8.1%
Jan 28,2025 Sonia Furstenau resigns as leader of the Green Party of British Columbia. MLA Jeremy Valeriote becomes interim leader.
Leger Jan 24–26,2025 [39] 44%42%10%——4%3.1%1,001Online2%
2024 general election Oct 19,202444.9%43.3%8.2%——3.6%—2,107,152Election1.6%

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Furstenau was the incumbent MLA for Cowichan Valley but stood in Victoria-Beacon Hill in 2024.
  2. ↑ May implicitly include support for OneBC or CentreBC, depending on the poll
  3. ↑ Poll asked about a prospective party with independent MLAs Dallas Brodie, Jordan Kealy, and Tara Armstrong. OneBC was announced after this poll was conducted.
Sources
  1. 1 2 Constitution Act, s. 23.
  2. ↑ Shaw, Rob (October 4, 2017). "NDP changes B.C.'s fixed election date from May to October". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  3. ↑ Zussman, Richard (May 26, 2017). "Christy Clark gets 1st chance to govern, but how long can it last?". CBC News .
  4. ↑ Larsen, Karin (October 28, 2024). "B.C. lieutenant-governor asks NDP Leader David Eby to form government". CBC News . Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Dickson, Courtney (November 2, 2024). "From the shadows to the spotlight: Conservative surge shakes up B.C. politics". CBC News . Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ Kulkarni, Akshay (October 22, 2024). "B.C. Greens mull role of potential kingmaker after tight election". CBC News . Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ Larsen, Karin (December 13, 2024). "B.C. NDP and B.C. Greens announce co-operation agreement". CBC News . Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ DeRosa, Katie; Kurjata, Andrew (January 28, 2025). "Sonia Furstenau stepping down as B.C. Green Party leader". CBC News . Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  9. 1 2 DeRosa, Katie (December 3, 2025). "John Rustad removed as B.C. Conservatives leader, party says". CBC News .
  10. 1 2 "John Rustad says 'nothing has changed' after B.C. Conservative Party board announces his removal as leader". CBC News .
  11. 1 2 Emily, Fagan; Vanderdeen, Lauren (December 4, 2025). "John Rustad resigns as leader of B.C. Conservative Party". CBC News . Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  12. ↑ "B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Rustad announces resignation". CBC News . December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  13. ↑ Madtha, Rippon (January 28, 2025). "Sonia Furstenau Steps Down as Leader of the BC Greens". BC Green Party. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ Kurjata, Andrew (March 7, 2025). "B.C. Conservative leader kicks Dallas Brodie out of caucus for 'mocking' residential school testimony". CBC News . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  15. ↑ Kurjata, Andrew (March 7, 2025). "2 MLAs defect from B.C. Conservative Party following Dallas Brodie's ouster". CBC News . Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  16. ↑ Page, Mark (June 12, 2025). "Former Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie to lead new B.C. political party". Keremos Review. Black Press Media . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  17. ↑ Johansen, Nicholas (June 12, 2025). "Kelowna MLA part of new BC political party". Castanet. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  18. ↑ Lazenby, Alec (September 22, 2025). "Elenore Sturko booted from B.C. Conservative caucus as John Rustad survives leadership review". Vancouver Sun . Postmedia Network . Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Emily Lowan rides youthful wave to landslide B.C. Greens leadership win". September 24, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Fifth B.C. Conservative MLA leaves party as John Rustad struggles to maintain hold over caucus". Vancouver Sun . Postmedia Network. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ DeRosa, Katie. "New Democrats back Premier David Eby's leadership at convention with 82 per cent support". CBC News .
  22. ↑ "OneBC - Volunteer". 1bc.ca. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ "OneBC ousts MLA Dallas Brodie as leader — but she says she's fighting back". CBC News .
  24. ↑ https://x.com/taraarmstrongbc/status/2001111433044492366?s=46
  25. ↑ Pantazopoulos, Dimitri (November 26, 2025). "New Yorkville Strategies BC polling shows that the BC Conservatives hold a slim lead over the BC NDP". Twitter . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Rustad's rocky road: Half of the BC Conservative Party's 2024 voters say they want him to go". Angus Reid. October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Abacus Data BC Poll: Eby Government Holds the Edge a Year After the Provincial Election". Abacus Data. October 20, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Government of British Columbia Report Card: October 2025" (PDF). Leger. October 29, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ "British Columbia Survey". Cardinal Research. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  30. ↑ "NDP Leads, Conservatives Drop, Greens Gain in British Columbia". Research Co. October 6, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Cross-Canada Outlook – Provincial Issues, Politics, and Government Performance: British Columbia". Angus Reid Institute. September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Mainstreet Research Survey – British Columbia" (PDF). Mainstreet Research. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  33. ↑ DeRosa, Katie (June 13, 2025). "2 MLAs form new B.C. political party that courts social conservatives". CBC News. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ Canseco, Mario (June 16, 2025). "Little Change in British Columbia Politics, Even With New Parties". Research Co. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Government of British Columbia Report Card: June 2025" (PDF). Leger. June 12, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  36. ↑ "BC: Conservatives Lead NDP, 47% to 45%". Liaison Strategies. May 7, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  37. ↑ "British Columbia's Political Scene Remains Closely Contested". Research Co. March 11, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  38. ↑ "British Columbia Provincial Voting Intentions" (PDF). Pallas Data. February 18, 2025. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Government of British Columbia Report Card January 2025" (PDF). Leger. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
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